Electrical connector



April 19, 1949. A. M. SCHMIDT ET AL 2,467,996

EI..EGTRIGALA lCONNECTOR Filed April 17. 1947 ffm/',g, 1

L :7W 7.29-67: www

Patented Apr. 19, 1949 ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Alphonse M. Schmidt andEugene4 F. Schmidt, Dubuque, Iowa Application April 17, 1947, lSerialN0. 742,162

1 Claim. l

This invention relates to electrical connectors.

An object of this invention is to provide a connector or coupling whichis so constructed that the wires extending into one end of the devicemay rotate relative to the other end, so that the wires will not becometwisted as is the case where the wires are xed relative to the connectoror plug.

Another object of this invention is to provide a. connector of this kindwhich can be adapted to connect extension cords together or can be usedas a plug connector, s-o that in the use of the f appliance the cordwill not be twisted or kinked.

Another object of this invention is to provide a swivel type ofconnector or plug wherein the wires may freely rotate for a completecircle, the device embodying few parts which can be sturdily made atsmall cost, the inner parts being encased in a housing of insulatingmaterial.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details oi construction disclosed in thedrawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out inthe appended claim.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, of anelectrical connector constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation of the device removed from thehousing,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly broken away and insection, of the connector used as a male plug for an outlet boX.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l designates generally a framewhich is formed of a pair of elongated parallel frame bars Il, havingsecured to the opposite ends thereof sleeves I2 and i3. The sleeve I2has rotatably mounted therein a cylindrical member I4 formed with aninner annular flange I5. The sleeve I2 is iixed to the arms or bars I Iby means of fastening members I6.

A centrally disposed contact carrier I1 is threaded through aninsulating tubular member I8 which extends through the bore of thecylindrical member I4, and the contact carrier I1 at its outer end isformed with a laterally extending arm I9, terminating in a lug 20through which a terminal screw 2| is adapted to be threaded.

A lock nut 22 is threaded on the inner portion of the contact carrierI1, and a washer 23 is interposed between the nut 22 and the inner endof the insulating sleeve I8. A terminal member 24 2 extends from the.cylindrical member I4, being secured to the latter by means of afastening member 25.

A terminal screw 2S is threaded through the outer end ol the terminalmember 24 for securing one end of a conductor to the terminal member.The sleeve or cylindrical member I3 has mounted therein an insulatingbody 21 and fastening members 28 secure the lower ends of the arms orbars vIl to the sleeve I3 and to the insulating body 21.

A screw 29 is threaded through the body 21 and has formed on the outerend thereof -a laterally extending terminal arm 30 through which aterminal screw 3| is threaded. A lock nut 32 is threaded on the outerportion of the screw 29 and a washer 34 is interposed between the nut 33and the outer end of the body 21.

A resilient longitudinally bent contact member 35 is secured to thescrew 29 by means of a nut 3'6. The contact member 35 is formed at itsinner or free end with a bowed portion 31 with which a contact 38,carried by the carrier I1, is adapted to rotatably engage. The other baror arm IIb of the pair of elongated arms or bars is formed with aninwardly projecting terminal member 39 with which a terminal screw 40 isthreadably engaged.

A two wire conductor 4I is adapted to be connected to the terminals 20and 24, being secured by the terminal screws 2| and 26, and a second twowire conductor 42 is adapted to be secured to the terminal screws 3| and40. A tubular housing 43 formed with opposite end bushings 44 and 45 isadapted to encompass the connector, the conductors 4I and 42 extendingthrough the bushings 44 and 45 respectively.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is disclosed a modied form of thisinvention wherein the terminals 20 and 24 have secured thereto a pair ofat bars 46 and 41 respectively. These bars are adapted to be inserted ina conventional plug type outlet connection. The housing 48 whichencompasses the connector is provided with a flanged cap 49 havingopenings 50 through which the bars or fingers 46 and 41 loosely engage.

The connector hereinbefore described may be used as a coupling between apair of extension conductors and will provide for rotation of one of theconductors relative to the other without causing the conductor to becmetwisted or therwise injured or broken during the use of the electricalappliance.

It will, of course, be understood that this connector may also be usedfor interposing in a telephone conductor such as the conductor whichconnects the transmitter-receiver with the switch box.

We do not mean to conne ourselves to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but cla-im all variations falling within the purviewof the appended claim.

What We claim is:

A swivel type electrical connector comprising a pair of spaced apartsleeves, a pair of diametrically opposed bars connecting said sleevestogether, an inner sleeve rotatably engaging in one of said pair ofsleeves, an annular flange carried by said inner sleeve abutting theinner end of said one sleeve to thereby hold said inner sleeve againstoutward endwise movement, a terminal member, means securing saidterminal member on said inner sleeve in a position whereby the inner endof said terminal member will abut the outer end of Vsaid one sleeve andhold said inner sleeve -against inward sliding movement, an insulatingbushing carried in said inner sleeve, a second insulating bushing xed inthe other of said pair REFERENCES CITED The following references are ofrecord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,749,702 Goucher Mar. 4, 1930 201,894,872 Jackson Jan. 17, 1933 2,387,015 Glbertson Oct. 16, 1945

